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secularmore about secular

secular

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Secular  \Sec"u*lar\,  a.  [OE.  secular,  seculer.  L.  saecularis 
  fr  saeculum  a  race,  generation,  age,  the  times,  the  world; 
  perhaps  akin  to  E.  soul:  cf  F.  s['e]culier.] 
  1.  Coming  or  observed  once  in  an  age  or  a  century. 
 
  The  secular  year  was  kept  but  once  a  century. 
  --Addison. 
 
  2.  Pertaining  to  an  age,  or  the  progress  of  ages,  or  to  a 
  long  period  of  time;  accomplished  in  a  long  progress  of 
  time;  as  secular  inequality;  the  secular  refrigeration  of 
  the  globe. 
 
  3.  Of  or  pertaining  to  this  present  world,  or  to  things  not 
  spiritual  or  holy;  relating  to  temporal  as  distinguished 
  from  eternal  interests;  not  immediately  or  primarily 
  respecting  the  soul,  but  the  body;  worldly. 
 
  New  foes  arise,  Threatening  to  bind  our  souls  with 
  secular  chains.  --Milton. 
 
  4.  (Eccl.)  Not  regular;  not  bound  by  monastic  vows  or  rules 
  not  confined  to  a  monastery,  or  subject  to  the  rules  of  a 
  religious  community;  as  a  secular  priest. 
 
  He  tried  to  enforce  a  stricter  discipline  and 
  greater  regard  for  morals,  both  in  the  religious 
  orders  and  the  secular  clergy.  --Prescett. 
 
  5.  Belonging  to  the  laity;  lay;  not  clerical. 
 
  I  speak  of  folk  in  secular  estate.  --Chaucer. 
 
  {Secular  equation}  (Astron.),  the  algebraic  or  numerical 
  expression  of  the  magnitude  of  the  inequalities  in  a 
  planet's  motion  that  remain  after  the  inequalities  of  a 
  short  period  have  been  allowed  for 
 
  {Secular  games}  (Rom.  Antiq.),  games  celebrated,  at  long  but 
  irregular  intervals,  for  three  days  and  nights,  with 
  sacrifices,  theatrical  shows,  combats,  sports,  and  the 
  like 
 
  {Secular  music},  any  music  or  songs  not  adapted  to  sacred 
  uses. 
 
  {Secular  hymn}  or  {poem},  a  hymn  or  poem  composed  for  the 
  secular  games,  or  sung  or  rehearsed  at  those  games. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Secular  \Sec"u*lar\,  n. 
  1.  (Eccl.)  A  secular  ecclesiastic,  or  one  not  bound  by 
  monastic  rules  --Burke. 
 
  2.  (Eccl.)  A  church  official  whose  functions  are  confined  to 
  the  vocal  department  of  the  choir.  --Busby. 
 
  3.  A  layman,  as  distinguished  from  a  clergyman. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  secular 
  adj  :  concerning  those  not  members  of  the  clergy;  "set  his  collar 
  in  laic  rather  than  clerical  position";  "the  lay 
  ministry";  "the  choir  sings  both  sacred  and  secular 
  music"  [syn:  {laic},  {lay}]




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